The Efficacy of Topical Negative Pressure in the Management of Infected and Non-infected Wounds

 This study evaluates the efficacy of a vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.® Therapy, KCI, San Antonio, Tex) device in the comparative management of clean and infected wounds. Vacuum-assisted closure was applied to 57 wounds of 51 patients. Our protocol consisted of debridement of all necrotic tissue followed by vacuum-assisted closure therapy along with appropriate antibiotic administration. In 5 cases with peripheral circulation impairment, vacuum-assisted closure therapy was terminated due to a poor tissue response. In the remaining 52 wounds, healthy granulation tissue generation was observed. Wound cultures obtained from these patients prior to the start of vacuum-assisted closure proved the presence of infection in 31 wounds, while the other 21 wounds were free of infection. The average sizes of the infected and non-infected wounds were 55.77 cm2 and 57.94 cm2 prior to the start of vacuum-assisted closure, respectively, while they were reduced to 48.28 cm2 and 45.70 cm2 after the last session. At the conclusion of vacuum-assisted closure therapy, 42 wounds were skin grafted and 10 wounds were covered with skin/muscle flaps. Vacuum-assisted closure therapy is a reliable tool in the management of almost any type of wound, whether infected or not infected, unless major circulatory impairment interferes and acted as a contributory factor in wound formation. .